http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34081 However, if you truly want to get to the heart of Turkey’s crowning glory, Istanbul, there is no better nor faster way than the midye.
Midye, the little stuffed mussels with rice and lemon juice, are ubiquitous in most Turkish cities. But to walk across the Galata Bridge, eating midye, watching the sunrise, is another experience in itself. The rice in the overstuffed morsel, absorbs the saltiness of the sea and the sourness of the lemon, producing a combination much like Istanbul itself, that in the overcrowding of 11 million people and four empires, you can find peace in the calm waters of the Bosphorus, highlighted by the sharpness of the sun.
On this bridge, at this time, with this food, you can feel the overwhelming sense of beauty of the Queen of Cities.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34081 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34020 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34020 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31435 The best thing about Akbil is you can use one for the whole family/group. All you need do is bleep each person through the turnstile, or onto the bus.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31435 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30642 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30642 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27355 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/27355 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26612 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26612 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26198 www.santralistanbul.com), spent the morning there, then hopped in a dolmus down to Eyup. A cable car brings you up to the shady, hillside cafe. It's a little touristy, but get a good seat and with cay pretty much on tap, you will be well and truly rooted. The Halic (Golden Horn) ferry snakes back via Haskoy. Look out for the partially submerged submarine, an exhibit belonging to the Rahmi M. Koc transport museum.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26198 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23871 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23871 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21507 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21507 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18425 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18425 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18375 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18375 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13437
Prices are insanely low for the area and you can definitely find something for under six lira. We tried the tavuk durum for 3.75ytl - chicken, fresh vegetables and fries in a thin flatbread. It was the best thing we'd eaten in Istanbul!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13437 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13083 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13083 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11471 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11471 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10311
Situated amongst the many eateries of Divan Yolu Tarihi Selim Usta Sultanahmet Koftecisi seemed consistently bustling and busy with a steady stream of locals and tourists. Inside it is basic and functional – but what more do you need – the same could be said of the menu which, apart from kofke and kebab offers lentil soup, rice (pilav), green salad, bean salad (piyaz), yoghurt and bread as accompaniments. However in no way does that do the food justice. It is what you might call comfort food of the first degree, unfussy, straightforward and flavoursome. Lentil Soup was thick and tasty, the bean salad - seasoned with mint and a little oil - lovely and fresh, both the kebabs and kofte were nicely spiced and well cooked and the yoghurt was delicious – again a wonderful fresh, palate cleansing taste.

Sit downstairs and you are right in the middle of things with waiters scooting about taking orders and delivering food from the grill, upstairs was quieter with excellent views over Divan Yolu. Service is friendly and fast and the price is excellent – between 20 and 30 YTL (£7.20/$13.80 to £10.80/$20.70) for a meat dishes, two or three accompaniments, yoghurt, bread and a couple of drinks. This is fast food at its tastiest and best, perfect for a lunchtime break.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10311 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9880
There are some wonderful exhibits, especially the beautiful calligraphy and decorated manuscripts, vibrantly coloured tiles and also the exquisite, elaborate pins and brooches used to decorate turbans.

The later galleries and the Main Ceremonial Hall contain one of the world’s foremost collection of antique carpets. The exhibition explains the different types of carpets and how some styles are named after certain artists i.e. Holbein, because they were featured in paintings by those artists. In the west Turkish carpets were so prized that they were used as table coverings rather than on the floor, thus showing the wealth of those who owned them.

The museum also has an Ethnographical Section which includes a reconstruction of a traditional Yurt dwelling and also details of how natural dyes are made from such things as plants, dried flowers and even crushes insects.

All the exhibits are well displayed with descriptions in Turkish and English. There is a lot to take in however the museum also has a lovely tea room where you can refresh your senses and feet and, in summer, sit out on the terrace with beautiful views over the Blue Mosque.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9880 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9879
Wooden floors and ceiling are offset by orange/ochre walls and exposed brickwork, the walls also decorated by interesting metal lamp fittings. Seating is on iron or wooden chairs and some very comfortable leather banquettes.

The menu is extensive with traditional Turkish dishes – such as mixed meze, kebabs and fresh fish – on offer next to wider ranging fare such as crepes, salads and pasta. There are also a number of vegetarian options.

The food was well cooked and very tasty, more along the lines ‘comfort food’ than modern or fusion cuisine but nothing wrong with that, as attested by a number of people in the restaurant who were visiting for a second time. Indeed had we not wished to sample as many restaurants as we could we may have returned as there was a number of different things on the menu I would like to have tried. We had a couple of criticisms, the salad we ordered had a bit too many pickled/bottled vegetables, making it rather less fresh and more bland then I would have liked, and the baked potato accompaniment with one of the dishes was slightly cold, however, these are really minor caveats and didn’t effect our overall enjoyment of the meal.

Combine all the above with friendly staff and a price tag for two starters, two main courses, a dessert, two beers and a coffee of 83 YTL (approx. £34.00) and you’ve got a good evening out.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9879 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9405 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9405 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8853 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8853 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7543 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7543